KUALA LUMPUR: A youth leader and a police officer are among four Malaysians going on an expedition across 24 countries, covering 24,000 kilometres, to book a place in the Malaysia Book of Records.

The expedition is organised by the 4B Youth Movement in spirit of the 2018 World Cup.

Pandan Luar 4B Youth Movement executive council member and chairman of the Sports Bureau, Shidane Razak, said the 2018 World Cup Spirit expedition would involve a 45-day travel by land in a Proton Preve 1.6 AT Executive car.

The team will leave Malaysia from the Youth and Sports Ministry office in Putrajaya on April 27 and end their travel in Moscow, Russia, where the World Cup matches would be held, he added.

Shidane, who is the expedition manager, said besides him, the other three members of the team were the expedition assistant manager Mohd Redzuan Rusilan, ASP Mohd Zairulhaidee Mohd Zamzuri and Izzul Hazwan Rusli, all aged 29.

"The expedition is aimed at raising the (sporting) spirit and creating a bond with people from all walks of life in the world through sports, regardless of political affiliation, religion, race and country," he told Bernama here.

He said the journey would see them travel through countries participating in the 2018 World Cup such as Croatia, Iran, Switzerland, Spain, France, England and Germany.

Although the expedition would require them to pass through countries in conflict, Shidane said he did not foresee it as a problem.

He said the journey would also take them to interior roads and places of tourist attractions, during which they would also carry out various activities with the local community, such as playing '3 on 3 street soccer'.

“We will also drop by at the Malaysian embassies and consulates along the way to hand over souvenirs and thank them for their assistance and cooperation in ensuring our smooth travel.

"We will also hand over contributions to the local community in need of assistance during our journey,” he said, adding that the expedition would also help to promote the Malaysian made Proton car.

Shidane said all members of the expedition liked outdoor activities and sports such as scuba diving, sky diving and horse riding, and believed their love for extreme sports would help them to cope with the challenges they would face during the expedition.

Their journey is expected to end on June 12 and they are scheduled to return home on June 23.

Shidane said the expedition was being organised with the support of the Youth and Sports Ministry, its minister Khairy Jamaluddin, the Ministry of Tourism, as well as the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia.

For more information on the programme, the public can visit www.kembarafifa2018.com, the Kembara Semangat Piala Dunia 2018 Facebook and Instagram @kembarafifa2018 or by contacting the secretariat at 010-2918181.